David Rogerson Williams

For the Harvard School of Public Health professor, see David R. Williams (scientist). For the Canadian physician and astronaut who also goes by David R. Williams, see Dafydd Williams.

David Rogerson Williams (March 8, 1776 – November 17, 1830) was a representative in the United States Congress and the 45th governor of South Carolina from 1814 to 1816.

David Rogerson Williams
Member of the South Carolina Senate from Darlington District
In office November 22, 1824 – November 23, 1828
Preceded by	Rasha Cannon
Succeeded by	John Dick Witherspoon
45th Governor of South Carolina
In office December 10, 1814 – December 5, 1816
Lieutenant	Robert Creswell
Preceded by	Joseph Alston
Succeeded by	Andrew Pickens
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from South Carolina's 3rd district
In office March 4, 1811 – March 3, 1813
Preceded by	Robert Witherspoon
Succeeded by	Theodore Gourdin
In office March 4, 1805 – March 3, 1809
Preceded by	Benjamin Huger
Succeeded by	Robert Witherspoon
Personal details
Born	(1776-03-08)March 8, 1776 Darlington County, Province of South Carolina, British America
Died	November 17, 1830(1830-11-17) (aged 54) Darlington County, South Carolina, U.S.
Resting place	Darlington County, South Carolina
Political party	Democratic-Republican
Profession	planter, lawyer, politician
Military service
Allegiance	United States of America
Branch/service	United States Army
Years of service	1813–1814
Rank	Brigadier general
Battles/wars	War of 1812

Early life and career

Born in Darlington County in the Province of South Carolina, Williams was educated at schools in Wrentham, Massachusetts, and attended Rhode Island College until he withdrew in 1795. Nonetheless, after studying law he was admitted to the bar in 1797 and he practiced law in Providence, Rhode Island, for three years. Williams returned to South Carolina and became an editor of the Republican papers City Gazette and Weekly Carolina Gazette of Charleston. In 1803, Williams moved to Darlington County to engage in cotton planting and various manufacturing enterprises.

Political career

Williams was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1804 from the 3rd congressional district as a Democratic-Republican. In general, Williams was a political maverick who stressed the need for limited government while also having greater accountability to the voters. When Williams first arrived in Washington D.C., he was offered to have dinner with President Thomas Jefferson, but Williams refused because he felt that it might interfere with his independence of mind. To let the voters know how their money was being spent, Williams requested an itemization of appropriation bills rather than a lump sum, but the House voted against an itemization.

As an ardent Nationalist, Williams left the House in 1813 to participate in the War of 1812 and was appointed by President James Madison as a brigadier general in the U.S. Army. He resigned in 1814 because of personal reasons, but, despite not running for office or being present during the election, was elected later that year as Governor of South Carolina for a two-year term by the General Assembly.^[1]

Later life and career

After leaving the governorship in 1816, Williams returned to Darlington County to resume his planting and manufacturing operations. He was elected in 1824 to the South Carolina Senate and served until his accidental death while superintending the construction of a bridge over Lynchs Creek on November 17, 1830. Williams was interred on Plumfield Plantation near Society Hill.